Chapter 7: The Morning They Came
Carol called at six forty-five in the morning three days later.
"I need you to get Emma out of the house by eight," she said.
"Take her somewhere you trust.
Don't tell Mark where you're going until you're already there."
"What's happening?"
"Federal agents are executing a warrant this morning.
Hale's warehouse, his offices, and two associated properties." A pause.
"One of those properties is Malcolm's apartment."
I sat up in bed.
Mark was still asleep beside me.
"Are they coming here?" I asked quietly.
"They may come to speak with Mark.
They won't arrest him this morning.
But I need Emma away from the house."
I woke Emma at seven and told her we were going to Aunt Rachel's for breakfast.
She asked if there would be pancakes.
I said yes even though I hadn't called Rachel yet.
I texted Rachel from the driveway: *Coming now.
Don't ask questions until we get there.*
She replied in under a minute: *Door's open.*
I dropped Emma at Rachel's and drove back.
Two unmarked cars were parked in front of the house.
Mark was standing in the doorway in yesterday's clothes.
A woman in a dark jacket was speaking to him.
A second agent was visible through the front window, moving slowly through the living room.
I parked and walked up the path.
The woman turned.
"Mrs.
Callahan?
I'm Special Agent Torres.
We have a few questions for your husband.
You're welcome to be present."
"I'd like to call my attorney first."
"Of course."
I called Carol.
She arrived in twenty-two minutes.
She shook Torres's hand, spoke to her privately for a moment, and then came to stand beside me.
"They have the warehouse," she said quietly.
"They found significantly more than the photograph showed.
Hale was there when they executed the warrant.
He's in custody."
I looked at Mark.
He was watching me from the doorway.
"And Malcolm?" I asked.
"Malcolm cooperated last night.
He gave them Hale's full operation in exchange for a reduced charge." Carol kept her voice level.
"He also confirmed that the plan for Emma's party was Hale's instruction, not his own idea.
He said he passed along the information about the party because Hale told him to.
He claims he didn't know what Hale intended to do with it."
"Do you believe that?"
She looked at me steadily.
"No," she said.
"But it's what he said."
Torres came back and asked Mark to come inside.
He went.
Carol followed.
I stood on the front path for a moment and looked at the street.
Quiet houses.
A neighbor walking a dog who didn't look up.
Everything looked exactly the same as it always had.
Inside, Agent Torres set a recorder on the kitchen table and asked Mark to describe his relationship with Victor Hale from the beginning.
May you like
Mark looked at me once.
Then he started talking.
